Recumbent - Shorts?

What do you all wear in the way of cycling shorts when riding?

I don't like the parachute effect of regular shorts even on short recreational rides/cruises. I have purchased a pair of lycra running shorts which solved that problem. But, I must admit I am in the Clydesdale category and they tend to roll down. :( Working on the cause of that problem though!


In my DF days I had bibs I liked, but the diaper wad of chamois on the recumbent seat is unnecessary. Anyone ever remove the chamois from a pair of cycling shorts?

I still wear my bibs, chamois isn't even noticeable and why waste good bibs

While I'm sure I look completely silly while peddling along, I can't stand the way looser clothes bunch and bind or billow when I'm cycling. Throw in an skin allergy to sun screen, I go with ankle length wicking running tights and a pair of running shorts over those to keep from feeling too self concious about wearing spandex and being an Athena. Top is a wicking compression top with long sleeves.

Colder weather, I just add layers of wool benath and wind blockers on top.

I tried normal clothes, but couldn't stand the way some parts would stick when I sweated and other sections would flap. So, snug fitting things that wouldn't flap and felt the same pressure dry or wet was the answer for me.

Talk about a dilemma for me when I start touring though. :o

Besides the parachute effect, what I find annoying is the leg openings getting hung up about the saddle horn... Also, once a member was riding with the bike club.. She was descending and a bee flew up teh Short's opening.. She was lucky it, it bit her on the thigh. Could have been worse.

I've removed the shammy from several pairs of shorts. It's a bit tricky but it can be done. it helps to have a seam ripper, and you have to work from the inside.

+1 to Blazing Pedals. It can be done. I, too, have been stung while wearing a pair of cycling shorts when a wasp got caught between my inner thigh and the seat. (Rans "Screamer") I only was stung once, but had I been wearing loose fitting shorts, I could have been in much more serious trouble. It's like wearing sun glasses or whatever for eye protection. You only have to be dinged once in the eye by a wasp, hornet, bumble bee, stone chip, etc., to loose sight, even for a moment. It makes sense to wear a pair of comfortable cycling shorts, or if weather dictates it, something longer, like tights. Mike

I just wear stuff from Performance. It's not like they have much of a chamois anyway.:innocent:

This is kind of a funny thread, since one of the supposed advantages of recumbents is not having to wear specialized clothing to be comfortable. Can we smile at ourselves? ;)

Although I wear work clothes when riding to the office, I completely agree about longer rides - I also find it annoying to have clothes flapping around. I have a pair of non-chammy knickers, I guess they were probably intended for running. I find having my knees covered works well for the chilly sea breezes were get here. I also modified a pair of regular shorts with a elastic cord through the hem and a cord lock - that way I can cinch the legs in for riding, but still wear them like regular shorts for anything else.

The older bike shorts with lousy or worn out chamois are relegated to the
recumbent. The experiments with 'gel' ditto, especially those whose
'gel' disappeared after a few washings. Spending some time on the back
of a tandem made me appreciate the difference between so/so and
really good shorts. $ do make a difference but are wasted on the bent.
I do like my one bent jersey with the pockets on the front rather than
the back.

Gee, I just wear my gym shorts. If it's colder, I wear sweats. Colder yet and I'll wear SmartWool or the like under the sweats. If it's raining I'll wear SmartWool and rain pants, but they're not padded. One of the things I like about 'bents is the ability to wear whatever I want.

I still wear my bibs, chamois isn't even noticeable and why waste good bibs

+1. I tried riding my high racer in hiking shorts, and not only did they balloon out, the hem caught on my handlebar, and darn near dumped me...

SP
Bend, OR

I like cut off sweats, cut them off down around the knee,, when cold ,long sweats, when colder, long sweats with the cut offs on the out side, sometimes when i want to get reeeel dressy and go on a date i wear my nike long pants..

This is kind of a funny thread, since one of the supposed advantages of recumbents is not having to wear specialized clothing to be comfortable.



Who said that? Not me. It's true you don't need funny padded shorts, but form-fitting shorts and wicking tops still work better than street clothes.

Wear what works for you. Street clothes don't work for me for more than a casual ride around the block.

Hostel Shoppe sells shorts made for recumbents. I have a pairhttp://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/readitem.pl?Accessory=1205516998 and they are excellent quality.

Buy bike shorts with a thin chamois. The chamois works as a wind break if it is cool.

+2 for Blazing pedals... I have three brand new pairs of cycling shorts, sans padding. I took a seam ripper and carefully removed the stitching as the padding gets in the way when turning the crank. So, I have "recumbent" cycling shorts for a much lower cost than the ones from the Hostel Shoppe.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee

I also think the most comfortable and practical option is to use regular bike shorts with chamois removed. I look to Nashbar and Performance when they are having a 50% off sale. I actually removed two chamois from shorts using a finlely pointed cheese knife ( couldn't find wife's seam ripper). I totally hate the diaper like feeling of wearing cycling short with a chamois. As Blazing Pedals said you do have to be careful. Something to do on commercial breaks when watching TV.